The Sunday herald., 1887-01-09
THREE ROSES.

Forty. five years ago young man and Z
girl stood in garden beneath the shadow
Of blossoming lime, aud the young mar
had just gathered rose. lie stood awk
wardly twirlipg II in his fingers, and long
ing to ask the girl to keep 1t until he re
turned from India to claim her as his bride
She pretended not to divine his intentions
not being, indeed, quite sure whether shs
wished him to declare them.
Forty FIVE years ago in England young
ladies wore sandalsd shoes. white stock
ipgs. and skinny skirts, and they piled
their hair on the top OF their heads and
braided 1t smoothly over their ears.
Forty-fve years ago young men wore long
coats, rather tight In the waist, and sw wathed
their necks in their black satin stocks
They did not yet wear mustaches and they
did not smoke.
People had not yet quite recovered from
their first surprise at the rapidity of rail
ways, and we're still agitated at the sight o.
a telegram. They regarded sunnowers as an
ordinary sort Of weed, and, except from theii
grandmothers, perhaps, had never heard
much of blue china. But in their uncul
tured and prosaic world flowers bloomed az
brightly, birds saug as sweetly, bees were as
murmurous in the lime. blossoms as now
And love told the same unchanging tale, SC
hollow in old ears, so musical in young,
while lovers were as reckless of their happi.
ness and as prone TO misconceptions iu those
days as now.
"Tsn't it nice afternoon :" said Miss Car.
ris Bulstrode, Just 10 break the oppressive
silence, and she glanced up at the cloudless
sky.
"very nice," murmured Hugh Dormer
while thinking that her eyes were as blue
as the heavens, and as fair.
$50 you are really going this evening 2"
resumed the young lady, with brief side
long glance at the rose. Did she wish him
to give 1t to herr Did she not
eyes. We are under orders for foreign
service. IL can't delay" he stammered,
chilled a little by her tone, which he though,
had sounded Indifferent, yet feeling that no,
TO speak now would entail on him the black
ness of despair.
"Well, hope you will soon come back %
said Carrie placidly. She was sorry that he
was going. yet not quite sure that 1t was not
as we'll. 1t was nice to be made love to op
dreamy summer evenings, but not quite so
nice to be asked to part with your liberty all
at once. He had drawn little nearer to
her, and his eyes were fixed on the pretty
down bent head ofhis love.
"NOt 80 soon, he said. "That is not pos.
sible. But If u-IfI-when am away, !
mean"
He stopped desperately. Carrie, little
frightened, glanced up at him shyly and
doubtfully. Fatal glance! He had hardly
caught II before it was gone-transferred
once more TO the daisitd svard-bnt it com
pleted his discontinue.
And, unfortunately, just at this moment
there came burst of laughter, a clamor of
young voices, a rush of feet, and all Carries
young brothers and sisters, agoodly tribe,
RACED mp the path from the riverside, and
burst like 90 many Red Indians on the lawn.
i..-ah threw aw8y the rose, nervously
mindful o. q dreadful day vhsn he had been
"chaifed'' numerically for bringing one to
Carrie. Alasl Bobby Rulstrode picked the
blossom up, aud with fendish glee began
derisively waving it abont
"Poor Carrie! Would she like 10 have it
would she ?" cried Bobbie, and he twirled
It half an inch from his sisters exasperated
face.
~ don't know why you say Poor Car
ri-l'' remarked the young lady, majesti.
cally. "The rose is not mine, and should
not wish to have it, for it Is no beauty"
And thereupon abe walked away with her
head in the air, feeling very Indignant with
Hugh for making her, az sha conceived, ri
dicnlous.
As for him, for five minutes he thougbt he
had received his death blow. For he was
only twenty-five. poor boy and very inge-
NOUS and ardenti
The next moment, however, tho recollec-
ton of his regiment and Of those lopged for
marching orders came TO his aid. He
cheered up little, although still quite con-
vinced that happiness and himself had bid
one another an eternal farewell:
Night brought counsel and courage. The
next day hs stFode again across the fields
from his own home to Carries, determined
to put his fate to the touch; for vas not that
evening to see him on his jonrpeyr
But the words that he had been rehesrsing
were never spoken; for on entering Mrs.
Bulstrode's drawing room he found IL
tsnanted not only by Carrie, but also by
Young Mr.. Conway, the son of the Squire,
and Hugh's most dreaded rival.
Mr.. Conway, . brilliant, handsome fellow,
and the most eligible yoyng man of the
nsighborhood, had for soIs time past been
paying cOurt to Carrie in q tantalizlng, on.
and of fashion, and on this particular morn.
ing he looked more in earnest than usual.
Carries pretty cheeks were flushed and her
eyes bright with gratiisd vanity. Perhaps,
too, with the dawn Of a worthier feeling.
The sight was anguish TO Hugh. lie
stayed a few wretnhed minntes, that felt
Ike hours; then realizing that Mr.. Conway
had every intention of outstaylng him, he
said "Good bye" 10 the girl of his heart for
ever.
About year later morning dav4ei that
was CARRIES wedding day.
She was to bs married to Mr.. Conway at
last, after much opposition from his family,
and trouble of all sorts, which only made
him seem better worth the winning.
This hour Of her Joy was oontemporaneous
with much dread and danger in that great
world where man both do aud suffer. Terri.
bls news had lately reached England from
the Esst--psws Of cruel massacres, of black
est uraehsry, and, alas OF some dishouor
to the British nag at Cabnl.
But gallant men had fought their way to
the rescue, and the nation drew little coln-
fort from knowing that some, at least, OF the
victims of Afghan treachery had escaped.
Amapg the officers Of the relieving force
was Hugh bormer. and he had been wounded
almost to death.
With these tdings came others 10 tue
Effect that lie had borne himself nobly, and
II he survived had nothing to look forward
to bpt glory and reward. "If he survived" ;"
said the letter that brought the news.
Tragic contingency which rung every heart
that loved him, and chilled syep Carrie in
the midst Of sll her Joy.
Poor Hugh She remembered Kim very
tenderly IN these days, and felt glad, yet
sorry, TO think that 30 noble heart had
loved her. He was not charming, of course,
like Philip Conway; not so handsome, not
so clever. nor yet braver for where was the
virtue. Carsis thought, of which Phil, the
gallant and gay, had vol pore than his full
share Ohi she would be happy Her
lie now would be one long dream OF bliss.
With no troubles Of her own 10 think Of sha
would be able TO do SO much more for other
people, She would sympatbize with every
body IN sossaw-help everybody who had
need of it-thsss depas should be the flower
and ths fruit Of her deeply rooted content.
The wedding went of brilliantly. Com
smiles, and prayers for her fa-
turs were showered on the pretty bride.
What wonisr II In that hour ofpure aud per
feet yet bewiidrsing happiness she forgot
poor Hugh, lying wouudei ip hospital under
a burning Indian sky Yet, jusi AZ gbs
m ,,sanatino sa "a "a m har tyaalt =, lo,.